Mounting frags underwater

[reefsandrotts]

I have some unmounted SPS frags coming and was wondering whats the best way to mount them to the rock structure in my tank?
Taking the rock out is not an option.
Thanks in advance

 

[MikeNapoli]

I mount them to a reef plug or disc. Boston AquaFarms.

I leave them on the sandbed for 2-4 days as to acclimate them to the lighting in my tank.

Then depending on where I want them to go I put the end of the plug in a hole or something. Or if they're going on a flat surface I cut the end off the plug and use it as a disc.

I use Loctite Gel superglue... it works underwater.

Or I'll use the AquaStick stuff. I just mounted a couple last night that I got from Stan(smcooler).

 

[JohnS_323]

Thanks to a tip from RichT, we've found that it works best to use both the Aquatick and super glue gel together. Here's the process: Mix up the Aquastick until the two parts are uniformly blended, the flatten it out a little to form a "cup" and put in squirt of super glue gel. Mix that together well and form it into a ball. Make a small recess in the ball and put in some gel and stick the frag onto that spot. Make a small recess on the opposing side and put some gel in there too. Take the hole piece and push into place in your tank.

Works like a charm! Just be sure to wear gloves because it gets a bit messy.

 

[RichT]

Mixing the gel with the 2 part causes the 2 part to set up PDQ. So be sure to have everything ready to go ahead of time.

Also, I don't use the 2 part directly on the frag as it gets hot when it cures and seems to cause problems with the coral. I generally use just gel with the frag to a piece of LR or plug then use the 2 part mix to attach to the reef. Its best to attach the frag to it's plug or LR rubble then place in the tank a couple days to fully cure and helps to further acclimate the coral to the tank. I always seem to knock the frag off the plug while handling if freshly glued to the rubble/plug. Then after a day or two, attach to the reef as previously described.

HTH

 

[reefsandrotts]

Thanks everyone,have a question can I form the aquastick cups ahead of time so they can "cool down" then use the super glue to attactch the frags?
Thanks again

 

[concept3]

Thanks everyone,have a question can I form the aquastick cups ahead of time so they can "cool down" then use the super glue to attactch the frags?
Thanks again

nope, they'll get too hard by then.

one more: When you get your frags, mount them directly on a small piece of live rock rubble with superglue gel (they have them now at home depot for like 20 small tubes for $6). Let that sit for a little while to set, and then what I do is take the epoxy, knead it till pliable, apply a dab of superglue gel on the bottom of the live rock rubble, mush the epoxy on it, then apply more superglue gel on the exposed epoxy end, and then mount it in the tank's rock structure. I'll then press it in place, forming the excess epoxy around the new frag/rubble and the base rock.

You could do this without the live rock rubble too, but I like moving frags around for best placement, and the live rock base is removable vs cutting the frag out of your main rocks.

 

[JohnS_323]

My bad. Thanks everyone for the clarification. For some reason, I had it in my mind that the frag was already attached to rubble or a disk or something. OOOPS! Yeah, you never want to put putty right onto the frag.